Law and Society Honors Thesis
Sociology 496 (4 units)
Please Print or Type and Fill Out Completely.
NAME:
Last,
First
Quarter:
______
CIN #
Proposed Title for the Thesis Project:
Project Description (describe what you plan to do and why, including research question(s), data
sources, and research methods):
This form must be complete and signed before a permit to enroll in the Honors Thesis course is issued.
I agree to supervise this student in a Law and Society Honors Thesis (obtain two signatures):
_
Signature of Sociology Faculty Member
Professor
[print name]
Date
Law and Society Adviser Signature
Date
Professor Elaine Draper
After the supervising faculty approve the Honors Thesis and the Law and Society Adviser
receives a finalized clean copy (edited for writing clarity and errors) to keep on file, the supervising
Sociology Faculty Member and Law and Society Adviser must sign to indicate approval of the
completed thesis.
I have received and approved the final Law and Society Honors Thesis (obtain two signatures):
Signature of Sociology Faculty Member
Professor
[print name]
Date
Signature of Law and Society Adviser
Date
Professor Elaine Draper
[updated July 9, 2012]
2
LAW AND SOCIETY HONORS THESIS
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LOS ANGELES
The Law and Society Program at Cal State Los Angeles sponsors a senior honors
program for students in their final undergraduate year. The Law and Society Honors Thesis
(Sociology 496) is an independent research course for honors students in the Law and Society
Option. The course is designed to give honors students an opportunity to do independent
research and write a sociological honors thesis in law and society. Students may do
preliminary work toward the thesis in a previous course or directed study.
During their final undergraduate year, students enroll in Sociology 496, develop a
research prospectus and have it approved by the sponsoring faculty member and Law and
Society Adviser, conduct an independent research project under the supervision of the
Sociology faculty, and write a senior honors thesis.
Eligibility criteria for students to enroll in the Sociology 496 Honors Thesis course are:
• a Law and Society Option Sociology student with senior class standing,
• 3.5 minimum grade point average, and
• completing courses required for the Law and Society Option and Sociology major:
— Sociology 201
— Sociology 488
— at least four upper division required courses or electives in the Sociology major
— at least two additional upper division Law and Society electives
Honors students consult regularly with faculty to discuss their research and drafts. They
are evaluated based on their research and final thesis. The Sociology 496 course is graded
CR/NC and may be repeated once for credit.
The final thesis should:
• fully describe the research question(s), data sources, and research methods;
• include a literature review to indicate familiarity with related work;
• clearly present the thesis and analytic argument;
• be 25 to 40 pages (double-spaced);
• be carefully edited for clarity, accurate quotes, and consistent format; and
• include a References list at the end with complete bibliographical information for all
work that the thesis cites. (Use the ASA or another standard academic reference style.)
To receive credit for the Honors Thesis course and be approved to graduate with
Departmental Honors in the Law and Society Option, students must first submit a polished
thesis (well organized, clearly written, and carefully edited for accuracy and consistency) to the
Law and Society Adviser to keep on file.
Students who complete the Honors Program graduate with Distinction in the Law and
Society Option. Diplomas and transcripts of Honors Program graduates are designated:
“Graduated with Departmental Honors in the Law and Society Option in Sociology.”
[updated July 9, 2012]